Lolly Errickson

Background

About Lolly Errickson

While our country grapples with questions around justice and equity, I believe in creating reading and writing opportunities that are inspired by what Toni Morrison said when she won the Nobel Prize for Literature (1993). “Narrative is radical,” Morrison tells us. Perhaps we can use narratives to remind us how to learn from and communicate with each other. We know that students (all humans, really) learn empathy from other people’s stories- fictional or not. What is more radical than telling every single kid that their voice matters? Students should read books full of both doors and windows; they could work on reading skills or learn about living poets. I've been teaching English for twenty years; I've led the department, created a Writing Center, created a peer tutoring program, organized culminating exhibitions, centered my teaching in Harkness discussions- all the while ensuring that my classroom is a space where all students can belong. And, acceptance and belonging are not the same thing. I continue to take courses on becoming a stronger anti-racist teacher.